Microsoft powers AI ambitions with 400 MW solar purchase
Microsoft has added another 389 megawatt to renewable power to its portfolio while the tech giant is climbing to meet the power requirements needed to match its AI ambitions.
The extra renewable electricity comprises three solar projects developed by EDP Renewables Noord -Arikika -two in Zuid -Iillinois and one outside Austin, Texas. Microsoft buys a mix of electricity to feed its nearby activities and credits for renewable energy to cover the demand elsewhere.
Microsoft contracts nearly 20 gigawatts of renewable energy power, according to the sustainability report of the company 2024. This last purchase adds around 2% to the count.
The tech giant has purchased strength from a fast clip to feed his cloud and AI operations. Like many of his colleagues, Microsoft has embraced renewable power, partly because wind and solar energy can be used quickly and cheaply.
Solar is especially fast. While new gas power plants take years to build and to order, a new solar farm can start producing the power in power in just 18 months. Developers have planned projects that can be submitted in phases, so that they can provide data centers with electricity as quickly as possible.
To make electricity possible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, some renewable developers turn to hybrid installations. Solar and wind are connected to one or more types of batteries, which are charged when renewable current flows and discharge when the ebb. Last week Amazon signed a contract with such a development in Portugal.
Purchase of renewable energy enables Microsoft to provide its core activities with electricity without producing pollution. It can also help Microsoft meet his promise to become carbon -negative by 2030. To hit the target, Microsoft will have to sekwestrate and store more carbon than producing its activities.
In order to achieve negative emissions, Microsoft has also invested in various forms of carbon removal, including direct air catching, improved rock delivering and replacement. Last month Microsoft announced a deal with Chestnut Carbon to buy more than 7 million tonnes of carbon credits, enough to cover about half of the emissions of the technology company in 2023.
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